Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Circumstances in the Dungeon (5)
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Handcuffed, I stare blankly at the moldy ceiling of the dark room.
I'd been kidnapped.
After careful deliberation, I'd reached one conclusion: it seemed a World Tree with a grudge against me was behind this.
Insane bastards forcing death on me without rhyme or reason.
Even in this hopeless situation, my sharpened senses were still searching for a way to escape.
'Gacha.'
I'll leave everything to luck.
Luck's effects vary by case, but they ultimately lead to better circumstances than now.
I flip onto my back, twist my head, and somehow maneuver my hands to summon the status window.
The first pull is Mineral Water.
I have plenty of points stockpiled. After hitting it a few times, a burst of light suddenly pours out, and a pure white bead rolls into view.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ▶ Transfer Orb (C) [Category: Consumable] - Can summon one item you possess. (A new item has been added to the shop.) One for now.
I move my hands to pull a few more times.
-Clack.
The handcuffs suddenly loosen.
"?"
I feel a slight return of my magic power.
Defective product.
I'd planned to escape via gacha, but this unexpected stroke of luck left me dumbfounded instead.
'If I play it right, I might be able to undo them?'
I roughly extend my magic power to grasp the magic circle etched on the handcuffs.
It's a pattern so complex that no ordinary decipherer could unravel it.
'I know the principle of disruption—rip it apart.'
Deciphering magic has the feature of piercing through an opponent's spell and rooting it out, matched by its corresponding learning difficulty.
A mage armed with thorough senses. A thinker who has piled up theories like a mountain.
Deciphering magic requires mastery of both fields.
That's why so many mages despaired and abandoned their dreams.
But for me now, it was possible.
-Crack!
Light flares as cracks form in the handcuffs.
A few weeks ago, when I'd interfered with Simpy's barrier to block Cestus's explosion, my magic abilities had already grown sufficiently.
The loosened handcuffs now seemed like they could be broken with a bit of force.
Should I just run like this?
No, I can't. I don't even know where the entrance or exit is—if I go out carelessly and get caught, it'll be a truly irreversible situation.
'Wait.'
Until the time comes.
With the Transfer Orb gripped behind my back, I summon the most helpful item I can retrieve right now from what I possess.
-Hum!
I hide the appearing pink bead by my head and exhale a breath laced with resentment.
Since I've been kidnapped, the academy side should be starting to move by now.
I don't know how long it's been, but it feels like days.
Thanks to the potions, my body feels fine and full of energy.
'I don't know what those bastards are thinking...'
Honestly.
This is the limit.
I hated this life of being tossed around without reason.
At the very least, I needed to see with my own eyes who the bastard was. I needed to snap that branch with my own hands.
In other words, my Anger Management Disorder had relapsed.
Heat rises to the top of my head.
No need to hold back on means or methods.
The opponents are trash anyway.
I can fight them with equally trashy methods.
-Click.
The door opens.
A Wood Person in nothing but underwear approaches me, face flushed red.
Sap drips drop by drop from the knotholes with every step.
[Human.]
A voice that could sound horrific depending on the listener.
Still handcuffed, I sit up and stare straight into the Wood Person's eyes.
[Sex...]
"Shut your mouth."
I command.
The Wood Person, filled with lustful desire, freezes in place.
[Th-that... Ugh...]
Pink Dawn.
The brainwashing artifact I'd obtained after taking down Lee Seong-han.
And perhaps this power was similar to those women's.
"Come here, you bastard."
[Yes...]
So I'll imprint it firmly.
If there's no one on my side here,
I'll make one myself.
I had zero intention of selling my body to these bastards.
I place my hand on the Wood Person's shoulder and stare intently into its eyes.
[......Ah♡]
The Wood Person lets out a small moan.
A faint imprint settles into the Wood Person's rolled-back eyes.
It works.
I might be able to turn the tables on those bastards completely.
The despair that had seeped into my veins dissolved into nothing under the surge of anger.
I grit my teeth, looking at the scars etched on both arms.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I'd always thought that man had a sucker side to him,
but I hadn't expected him to throw himself in so casually again this time.
Unlikeable, pathetic.
Yet brutally honest when it came to expressing his emotions.
But Azalea didn't just let him go.
She'd anticipated that Lee Si-heon, who always took on burdens, would do the same this time.
"Is this position definite?"
"Yes."
Azalea answered without hesitation to Lee Se-young's sharp gaze.
An island somewhere in the Pacific.
A place not even recorded on dungeon maps.
Right before parting from Lee Si-heon, Azalea—half-mad with frenzy—had instead used that frenzy to pull off a clever trick thanks to it.
She'd planted a spirit's trace on him.
The spirit had vanished upon taking the magic hit, but its magic power remained intact, allowing her to pinpoint the location.
The only downside was that the distance was so far it took time.
"...Yeah. This is it."
Lee Se-young let out a sigh-mixed breath and swept a hand over her face.
"Thanks."
Azalea was moved by Lee Se-young considering her safety but hardened her expression with worry for Lee Si-heon.
"Take me with you when you go."
If she'd received a favor, she had to repay it.
"Sure."
Lee Se-young nodded at Azalea's resolute gaze.
They actually needed more hands anyway. Azalea, with her active-duty level skills, would be a big help.
Above all, she held the key to the coordinates.
"Then."
-Creak.
Azalea bowed her head in greeting to her homeroom professor and exited the building next to the artificial dungeon.
Se-young furrowed her brow. Soon after, the door opened again.
"Instructor."
Cornus.
She looked somewhat uneasy, like she'd lost a pet.
At the appearance of the renowned family's daughter, Lee Se-young let out a wry chuckle despite her discomfort.
'Crazy bastard.'
Yesterday, contact from the Heavenly Demon. Offering help.
Shocking enough on its own, then the Jinmok Group's heir promised aid just now, and now the Cornerus family's eldest daughter shows up.
Things were about to get much bigger.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Azalea walked dazedly toward the dorms.
No way classes could stick in her head in this situation.
Gazing at the slowly setting sun, she soothed her slumped emotions.
Right now, she just wanted to stay still.
-Click.
Nothing greeted her upon returning to the dorm.
It wasn't dismissal time, and today happened to be the dorm staff's day off.
But this atmosphere wasn't bad.
The quiet, almost poetic air felt like her emotions transplanted there.
-Clack, clack.
She climbs the stairs.
Her feet, deliberately taking the long way to her room, stop at one spot.
Lee Si-heon's room.
The face of that child she'd seen then floats in her mind.
A kid who'd strangely hated her.
Maybe still waiting for her dad even now.
She reaches for the door handle.
Click— it turns easily.
'It's open.'
She holds her breath briefly and slowly opens the door.
Beep beep. The door lock disengages.
Dark room. Not a speck of light.
Potting soil scattered messily on the floor.
"Peep, pip."
The echoing voice sounds feeble and sorrowful.
Seeing Shiba's shrunken body, Azalea forgets to take off her shoes and hugs the little one tight.
"Pip! Pip!"
Startled, Shiba scratches at Azalea's face and body with tiny claws.
She doesn't mind the scratches on her face.
How long did they stay like that?
"......Pip."
Shiba's fierce resistance gradually weakens.
Shiba silently clings to Azalea's chest.
The fragile gesture searching for her father feels vivid even through her clothes.
"......"
Azalea glares fiercely, reaffirming her resolve.
And exactly the next day.
An unofficial operation begins to rescue one academy cadet.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The movement is quiet.
But no need for excessive silence.
That would lack flair. Just enough to thoroughly crush the necks in front of me.
The one mindset I'd learned from that trash father.
Over the past few days, the dozens of trees entering my quarters had been fully brainwashed by me.
It was already confirmed that brainwashed trees prioritize my words over women.
I'd systematically spread brainwashing throughout the entire village built in this forest.
There was one insurmountable wall between them and me.
"Status report on those fucking bastards."
[......Today, they did nothing but stay in the room. Weapon maintenance, and seemed to contact somewhere.]
They can't communicate with trees.
Something about wavelengths matching or whatever. They say it's their first time trees communicate so well.
"Tell me the phone contents."
[Voice was low, so hard to hear, but it seems tonight is the decisive night.]
"Yeah, figured as much."
I casually reply to the tree and exert force on my handcuffed hands atop the bed.
-Kang!
The handcuffs snap powerlessly and fall to the floor.
I have no idea how much havoc I've wreaked in the meantime.
I drink the water from the nightstand.
-Gulp. Gulp.
The surrounding trees' eyes twitch in sync with my throat movements.
These idiots stick to their guns till the end.
"Phew."
Exhaling in satisfaction, I check my condition.
Magic power at full. I can fight plenty.
No—do I even need to fight?
-KyaAaAaak!
A scream echoes from somewhere. Followed by the relentless whine of chainsaws.
Time's up.
I rise from the bed.
My now-ragged pants drag on the ground.
"Kids, let's go."
[Sharp eyes... so cool.]
"Tree No. 1, shut up."
[Yes...]
I'd thought having this trait brought nothing good, but since it saved my life once, it owes me forever.
I swagger out the door.
"Why the hell are you suddenly doing this?!"
Beta's panicked voice sounds amusing.
"You!!!"
Alpha's shocked face at seeing my intact body.
She's struggling to block the trees' attacks.
Considering I was in that state just days ago, I'd endured impressively.
"What the hell did you do?!"
"Exactly what you did to me."
Dominance or brainwashing.
I was certain that with the same ability, my trait of being loved by trees would give me the edge.
If it pisses you off, get the trait yourselves.
I sneer at them.
"Lee Si-heeeooon!!"
Alpha claws at her throat roughly and charges through the trees.
Why does she hate me so much?
I wondered at first, but now I feel nothing.
-Whiiiir!
Chainsaw thrusting at my neck.
Whether from transcending death to a higher realm or full recovery,
Now even that seems slow.
-Flash.
A gleam erupts.
Or so it felt.
Black Peony.
Black petals resembling peonies fully extend, striking the chainsaw's blade.
-Crackle!
The chainsaw cracks.
Alpha's shocked face reflects in it.
I naturally twist my arm, slamming my elbow into her face.
"Hup—"
-Thud!
Alpha crashes to the ground and passes out. Blood seeps from her pretty face.
"Sis...ter!"
Beta, battered among the trees, cries out pitifully.
Her resistance lasts only a moment before the trees overwhelm her to her knees.
"You fucking bastard..."
I scoff at the venomous voice.
"Fucking bastard? Then what are you, who kidnapped an innocent cadet and turned her into a plaything?"
"Shut up."
I stand and survey the surroundings.
Among the wooden buildings, no tree untouched by my hands remains anywhere.
These crazy sisters had tried to make me the village's plaything after all.
'Truly insane bitches.'
Even thinking back, my body trembles.
What if the Transfer Orb hadn't come up in that gacha?
Well, I'd have figured something out then.
"So, which fucking bastard ordered this shit?"
I lower my voice threateningly.
Beta's eyes tremble in fear. No mercy here.
"Which World Tree do you serve?"
"......"
At the mention of World Tree, Beta steels herself and glares defiantly.
As I prepare to use Pink Dawn,
-Boom!
A rift cracks the sky.
Familiar magic power.
They're finally here.
"Ugh, fuck."
I mutter a pointless curse and order the trees to tie up Alpha and Beta.
Then I drape my tattered cadet uniform over myself and look back.
Familiar faces appear.
"Isn't this too late?"
The hunters and instructors gripping weapons look stunned.
Dozens of trees kneeling.
Enemies all downed, me standing triumphantly atop.
A bizarre scene.
I don't know what they see in me.
If I had to put it in words...
Wood Spirit King.
Se-young stands there, half relieved, half baffled.
An eased Azalea. A somewhat pouty Cornus.
As I inwardly wonder why so many came,
"What is this? You took them all out?"
"...Master?"
Cheondo descends gracefully from the sky, rolling her eyes to take me in.
Wearing a gonryongpo unlike her usual attire.
The underlayer isn't her previous latex either.
"You've gotten stronger."
At Cheondo's proud words,
I smile back.
"So, these are the bitches who targeted my disciple?"
"Yes, utter fucking scum."
Cheondo glances at Alpha and Beta, then turns back to me.
"Si-heon."
"Yes."
"About your current situation, I have something to say."
I grin.
We'll talk later—first—
"First—"
"Cleanup, right?"
"Yeah."
I turn back to the passed-out Alpha and Beta.
These bitches are headed for the torture chamber.
A horrific one, impossible to even think about again.